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How small is too small for a vintage watch?

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#41 ·
I wonder if the op is still getting emails that his thread is being added to. I mean he’s not been on the forum for ages. But if he or anybody is still interested my smallest is 34mm and I’m 7.5 in wrist my biggest is 42
 
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#43 ·
I tend to shy away from 34mm and smaller and prefer 35-36mm for vintage that keep that style. To me, the vintage style is a strap watch that shows a lot of the strap when looking down at the watch. 34 and 35mm vintage watches are very common, but larger (36 & 37) are not.

One of my favorite brands in vintage is GP, and particularly the Gyromatics. There are plenty of versions out there in ss or gold or gold plate/capped. The prices haven’t been been blown out of proportion quite like many others brands.
 
#44 ·
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#45 ·
ljb187 said:
If you find a watch with lots of dial and a thin bezel you could probably go as low as 34mm. Anything less on your size wrist is tough sell in today's world (not saying it can't be done though). My 34mm Max Bill on my 6 3/4" wrist:

View attachment 1489018

I like smaller watches but anything smaller than this starts to look weird to me. If you get a chance, one trick I'd recommend is to look at the watch in the mirror while you're wearing it; this will give you a better idea of how the watch truly appears...For some reason they look smaller when you're staring straight down at your wrist.

Is your avatar Curly from the Three Stooges or some sort of famous scientist/philosopher?
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you made the best point if you ask me, when i read your comments i was marveled.
 
#49 ·
I have a 7" wrist. I love the 34mm Seamaster, but feel like its a little small. No problem wearing a 36 mm Explorer.
 

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#54 · (Edited)
So, this vintage Condor is the my latest flea market catch
At first I was thinking just to turn it into a gift but then spent some time online to read about how small is ok
Also found this picture of Mohamed Ali with his Cartie watch :) https://blog.crownandcaliber.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/muhammad-ali-cartier-watch.jpg

The case is 30/22mm. My wrist is 17.6cm (or about 7 inches)
Also I could always include a nice thin bracelet to add some volume and create a hipstery look :)
 

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#56 ·
DustinS said:
wearing a 40 mm seiko and with a friend who was wearing a vintage gold Omega....I really felt silly with my huge watch next to his classic looking piece. We are right around 30 in age to give you some perspective. So I say find a watch you like and odds are the smaller vintage piece will make the guy with the big watch feel silly.
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DustinS. You are so right. It is a relative notion....

My smallest is 36mm only because that is what I own.

I don't need a hockey puck on my wrist to feel like a man.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#57 ·
Fashion has changed a lot in the last 90-100 years. We no longer drive cars with 4 inch wide tires, men don't wear wide ties, bowler hats, and most don't wear fedoras, either. I stopped wearing my 80's era plastic Swatches because I came to view 34mm as just too small. Watches have gotten larger, and I don't wear anything less than 38mm, preferring 40-42 as my personal "sweet spot" on my 7 inch wrist.

I have a 33mm "Diamond" brand watch that I traded for years ago, but I never wear it. While it appears to be well made and technically interesting, it's just too small for my tastes.
 
#58 ·
I remember the disappointment I felt some years ago when I bought a watch on eBay that looked incredible, an older Waltham automatic. At the time, I resented the trend toward big look-at-me watches, and I thought I was going against the grain. But the watch was so small, so hard to read actually, that I felt foolish in the other direction. It's gone now, but I'd guess it was in the 34-36 range. (It actually put me off vintage watches for a long time.)

Now, while it may be arbitrary, I don't look at anything under 40, with 45+ making me wonder if I'd be wandering into frisbee-on-the-wrist range.
 
#59 ·
I think case shape and lug size have a lot to do with the perception of too big or small. That's in addition to another poster's comments about if it's all dial(which will wear larger). Chunky lugs and an overall more substantial case will make a 34 watch have as much wrist presence as a 36 at least. Diameter isn't everything. Plus if you have a domed crystal that adds more presence as well. I have a 6.5 inch flat wrist and 34 is plenty large for me. I don't know that I'd go much smaller, but it's plenty.
 
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